Officers kill 1 of 2 vicious dogs

Toledo police shot and killed one of two dogs that reportedly menaced two people and were aggressive with officers yesterday in the north end.

Officers responded to a vicious dog call about 10 a.m. at Blackstone Drive and Homer Avenue after a man jumped onto the hood of his car and the dogs would not let him off.

Officers found the dogs at Homer and Doyle Street, tried to corral them, and followed them to Stickney Avenue and Lake Street, Sgt. Richard Murphy said. The officers tried to get the dogs into a yard, but the canines became aggressive and went after police. Officer Mary Green shot one of them with her Taser, but it didn't affect the dog and they fled.

The dogs menaced another citizen in the 3300 block of Stickney. Police intervened and the dogs turned on the officers at Stickney and Lake, the sergeant said.

He said Officer Green fired two shots from her department-issued handgun and Officer Dave Williams fired one shot from his handgun. The dogs ran across the street to the 800 block of Bricker Avenue, where police corralled them in a yard.

Lucas County Dog Warden Tom Skeldon said the male German Shepherd-Chow mix was shot once in the upper left shoulder of a front leg and died on the way to his office.

The other dog, a female mixed breed, was not hurt. It is being held at the warden's office and may be put up for adoption if it is not claimed.

Neither dog had a license and their owners are unknown. The shootings will be reviewed by the police's firearms review board.